1998 Ford Explorer Exterior lighting Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HIGH BEAMS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY EVEN AFTER THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEADLIGHT MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10653976

Incident

Oct 30, 2014

MAY 20, APPROXIMATELY 03:30AM, WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH TO WORK IN THE DARK WITH HEAD LIGHTS ON; HEADLIGHTS UNEXPECTEDLY TURNED OFF. LUCKILY THAT SECTION OF THE STREET, HAD STREET LIGHTS WORKING PROPERLY; BUT, I WAS APPROACHING AN UNLIT STRETCH OF WINDING ROAD WITH A 45MPH SPEED LIMIT. THIS COULD HAVE BECOME VERY DANGEROUS. (DASHBOARD LIGHTS WERE NOT AFFECTED.) TURNING THE NORMAL HEADLIGHT SWITCH DID NOT SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I TRIED THE BRIGHT LIGHT FUNCTION, WHICH IS PART OF THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER. THEY DID NOT COME ON AT FIRST; HOWEVER WHEN JIGGLING THE "TURN SIGNAL LEVER," I NOTICED A "LOOSENESS IN THE LEVER, AT THE BASE WHERE IT CONNECTS TO THE STEERING COLUMN." WIGGLING IT, TURNED THE HEAD LIGHTS BACK ON, TEMPORARILY; BUT, WIGGLING FROM VIBRATION IN TRAFFIC CAUSED THEM TO TURN "OFF" AGAIN. THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER ON THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER IS USED TO CONTROL THE "BRIGHT LIGHTS" AND ALSO CONTROLS WINDSHIELD WIPERS. I AM NOT CERTAIN; BUT, I BELIEVE I HAD THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER ASSEMBLY REPAIRED SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY A FORD DEALER IN SAN DIEGO...NEITHER OF THE DEALERS I USED TO HAVE SERVICE MY VEHICLE ARE STILL IN BUSINESS. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER AT THAT TIME, HAD TO DO WITH THE WIPERS CUTTING OFF UNEXPECTEDLY; AND, EVENTUALLY, NOT WORKING ALL TOGETHER. FIRST: IS THIS SOMETHING THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INVESTIGATE "BEFORE" HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED? SECOND: SHOULD FORD BE THE ONE INVESTIGATING THIS PROBLEM? THIRD: SHOULD FORD REPLACE THE TURN LEVER ASSEMBLY AND PROVIDE THE LABOR AT THEIR EXPENSE? ... ON A PERSONAL NOTE, AFTER WORKING FOR THE SAME COMPANY FOR 12 YEARS AND BEING A WORKAHOLIC, I JUST GOT LAID OFF LAST WEEK. THIS EXPENSE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO COST SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS IN PARTS AND LABOR, WHEN I CAN LEAST AFFORD IT. AT THIS TIME, I CAN RULE OUT TRYING TO APPLY FOR A NIGHT JOB. *JS

NHTSA ID

10461016

Incident

Jun 20, 2011

Mileage

99,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPLORER XLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WERE INOPERABLE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ARM YET THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN A YEAR. THE DIRECTIONAL CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME BY THE DEALER. HE ALSO NOTICED THAT THE WIRES WERE DISCOLORED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED SEVERAL ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE CONTACT DECLINED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE CONTROL ARM DID NOT NEED AN ADDITIONAL REPLACEMENT BUT SUGGESTED REPLACING THE FUSE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE USING THE TURN SIGNALS, THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH INSIDE BEGAN SMOKING. THERE WERE NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE OR RELATED RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 191,000.

NHTSA ID

10321653

Incident

Oct 24, 2009

Mileage

112,000 mi

DT: DRIVER'S SIDE BACK SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE. ON JUNE 1, 2005. CALLER SAID THE OTHER TWO SEAT BELT LATCHES BROKE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND CALLER HAD THEM FIXED. ALSO, SHE LOW BEAM IWASNOT WORKING . SHE HAD IT CHECKED AT A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET.*AK

NHTSA ID

10130842

Incident

May 1, 2005

Mileage

150,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. SIDE MARKERS AND TURN SIGNALS STILL WORK, AS DO HI-BEAMS WHEN IN FLASH/PASSING MODE. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, BUT THEY STILL DON'T WORK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10090885

Incident

Aug 30, 2004

Mileage

128,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. ACTION TO BE TAKEN IS TO HAVE THE DEALER INSPECT AND REPAIR.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088427

Incident

Aug 22, 2004

Mileage

76,000 mi

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD STICK CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS WILL EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE KILLED. FORD SHOULD RECALL VEHICLE. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE PROBLEM REMAINED THE SAME. *SCC THE REVERSE LIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED, THE LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT WAS REPLACED. *JB. SURGES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH BRAKES ON. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM NHTSA THAT INDICATED THAT REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE DURING THE INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TO INCLUDE THE 1998 FORD EXPLORER 5.0 LITER ENGINE IN THE SCOPE OF RECALL 00V-422. *AK

NHTSA ID

10042658

Incident

Oct 9, 2003

Mileage

76,000 mi

MULIFUNCTION SWITCH ON 1998 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BOWER 2WD SMOKING AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MFS BEGAN SMOKING AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. NO FIRES REPORTED AFTER NUMEROUS VEHICLE STARTS, HOWEVER, SMOKE BECOMING MORE PREVELANT AFTER EACH VEHICLE START. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEABLE. MFS WAS REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037271

Incident

Aug 8, 2003

Mileage

49,850 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AT 70 MPH HEADLIGHTS FAIL DUE TO DEFECTIVE SWITCH IN STEERING COLUMN.*AKM

NHTSA ID

766347

Incident

Aug 16, 2002

WHEN ACTIVATING TURN SIGNALS THERE IS A CRANKING SOUND, SIGNALS WILL ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY.*AK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH.*JB

NHTSA ID

8015629

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

WHEN MAKING TURNS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT TURNS, VEHICLE SLIDES AND ALMOST TURNS OVER.*AK. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS,AND THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, SIGNALS ARE NOT WORKING, DEALER REPLACED A DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR AND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, FIRESTONE TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, WHICH WERE REPLACED IN JULY 2001, THE REAR SEATS MOVE/BOUNCE WHEN DRIVING, THE REAR SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE, THE DEALER REPLACED THE BUCKLES, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, THE WINDSHIELD WAS CHIPPED, THE ALARM WOULD NOT CHUT OFF AT TIMES, DEALER REPLACED A BAD LOOSE WIRE.*JB

NHTSA ID

8008389

Incident

Feb 17, 2002

TRUNK DOOR WILL NOT SHUT PROPERLY. CONSUMER IS ABLE TO SLIDE HIS HAND IN WHILE DOOR IS SHUT. *AK CONSUMER CONTACTED DMV AND FOUND OUT VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, CONSUMER SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR A VEHICLE THAT HAD NOT BEEN DAMAGED, HOWEVER DEALER SOLD IT TO HIM ANYWAY, CONSUMER FEELS DECEIVED AND IS EXPERIENCING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE. RADIO IS INOPERATIVE AT TIMES. HATCH RUBS AGAINS FRAME OF VEHICLE. TAILLIGHT AND HEADLIGHT ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT, FOG LIGHTS HAD LAMP FAILURE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCES PROBLEMS WITH ABSORBING ROAD SHOCK, VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES, VEHICLE EXPERIENCES LOW POWER. REAR POWER WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. POWER ANTENNA FAILED. RIGHT WINDSHIELD WIPER INTERIOR GARNISH MOLDING LOOSE, REAR WIPER BLADE SKIPS CENTER OF GLASS, DEALER REPLACED REAR WIPER ARM AND BLADE ASSEMBLY. STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED DUE TO NOISY. BUMPER NOT EVEN. *SLC

NHTSA ID

889696

Incident

May 1, 2001

DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNALS: TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT STAY ON. WHEN I APPROACH A TURN AND ATTEMPT TO TURN ON MY SIGNAL, THE LEVER WILL NOT STAY DOWN. SUBSEQUENTLY, MY SIGNAL WILL NOT TURN ON. SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATES THAT I NEED TO TURN MY WHEEL. WELL, THIS OCCURS 50% OF THE TIME. NEXT, IF I GET THE SIGNAL TO STAY ON, AS I PULL OUT THE SIGNAL IMMEDIATELY TURNS OFF. I HAVEN'T EVEN PAST THE FIRST LANE OF TRAFFIC AND THE SIGNAL GOES OFF. CROSSING A FOUR LANE ROAD, MY SIGNAL TURNS OFF BEFORE I'VE CROSSED THE SECOND LANE TOWARDS THE CENTER. IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T SEE MY SIGNAL, WHEN I'M AT THE STOP SIGN, THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY I'M GOING. I'VE EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS FOR MY SAFETY AND LIABILITY IN AN ACCIDENT WITH KIRKLAND, WA FORD DEALERSHIP. THEIR RESPONSE AFTER TESTING THE VEHICLE FOR A DAY, IS THAT IT IS WORKING AS DESIGNED ON BOTH ISSUES. I REQUESTED TO SPEAK TO A SERVICE MANAGER LATER THAT EVENING AND WAS INVITED TO COME IN. WHEN I ARRIVED, THE MANAGER SUDDENLY WOULD NOT MAKE TIME TO MEET ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

742992

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN DARK AND HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, BRIGHT AND DIM. CONSUMER HAD TO HOLD TURN SIGNAL TOWARDS HIM TO KEEP LIGHTS ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

879331

Incident

Jan 30, 2001

15" WHEEL TOO SMALL FOR VEHICLE, SUSPENSION NOT AS STABLE AS A 2000 YEAR MODEL, REAR WIPER FAILED 2 TIMES (ALSO FAILED IN 2000 MODEL,) TURN SIGNAL CANCELS TOO QUICKLY/EASILY REPLACED 2 TIMES STILL LOUSY, (DOT NUMBER: NOT APPLIC TIRESIZE: 235/75/R15)

NHTSA ID

735346

AFTER HAVING THE SECOND REPLACEMENT BY THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THEY ALWAYS BURN OUT. I HAVE HADE A PROBLEM WITH FOGLIGHT BURNING OUT ABOUT EVERY FEW MONTHS AS WELL

NHTSA ID

731842

WHILE VISITING THE NHTSA WEB SITE I FOUND A RECALL ON FORD EXP. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V215000 MY EXPLORER DOES NOT FIT THE RECALL BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENS, NO CHIME AND ALSO NO INTERIOR LIGHT. I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS DOING SOMETHING WRONG. COULD THE PROBLEM BE MORE WIDE SPREAD THAN NHTSA OR FORD THINK. THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPORT.

NHTSA ID

727635

Incident

Aug 2, 2000

TURN SIGNALS AND HIGH BEAM INDICATOR LAMP FAILED SUDDENLY. FUSES ARE GOOD. REAR WIPER HAS NEVER WORK RIGHT. HAS NOT WORK AT ALL FOR SOME TIME. ALWAYS HAD LOW RUMBLE WHEN MOVING. APPEARS TO COME FROM FRONT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 70R15 100S )

NHTSA ID

727045

Incident

May 15, 2000

HEAD LIGHTS WOULD NOT COME ON DUE TO SWITCH ASSEMBLY FAILURE. YH

NHTSA ID

550355

Incident

Mar 6, 2000

WHEN USING THE LIGHT SIGNAL AT TIMES IT WON'T WORK. TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT IN SOME PLACES SIGNAL WILL NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ID

863736

Incident

Jun 16, 2000

WHILEDRIVING DOWN THE ROAD HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO PLAY WITH THE SWITCH BEFORE HE COULD GET THEM BACK ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

858206

Incident

Mar 8, 2000

TURN SIGNALS DO NOT WORK AT ALL. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

856451

Incident

Jan 15, 2000

THE TURN SIGNAL CONTROL WHEN FIRST ACTIVATED WILL NOT LOCK IN PLACE TO INDICATE THE TURNING DIRECTION UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, DEALER IS AWARE OF DEFECT AND SAYS THAT IT IS A POOR ENGINEERING DESIGN. NLM

NHTSA ID

558538

4- WHEEL DRIVE/HIGH/LOW LIGHT FLASHES INTERMMITTENTLY EVERY 0.5 MILE. *AK

NHTSA ID

715162

Incident

Nov 19, 1999

THE TURNSIGNAL FAILS TO REMAIN ENGAGED, IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED SLIGHTLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO USE SIGNAL. I AM UNABLE TO WARN OTHER MOTORIST THAT I AM GOING TO MAKE A TURN. DELAER INDICATED THAT "ALL THE EXPLORERS DO THAT AND FORD DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM".

NHTSA ID

713092

Incident

Oct 30, 1998